Legal Manager

Position: Legal and Compliance

Location: Mumbai

Education: LLB (CS qualification is a plus)

Background: 10+ years of experience of working in a similar industry as Aeries. Preferably IT/ITES/BPO/KPO with international presence

Shifts (if any): 10:30 am onwards (candidate should be flexible to work as per the business requirement)

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Legal & Compliance to lead the organization's legal, regulatory, governance, and compliance functions. The role will be responsible for ensuring legal compliance across business operations, managing contracts, mitigating legal risks, supporting corporate governance requirements, overseeing statutory compliance, and providing legal guidance to leadership teams.

The ideal candidate should possess strong expertise in corporate laws, contract management, labor laws, regulatory compliance, litigation management, and stakeholder management while supporting business growth initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal Advisory & Risk Management

• Provide legal guidance and support to business, HR, finance, procurement, and operations teams.
• Identify legal risks and recommend practical business-oriented solutions.
• Review and advise on strategic business decisions from a legal and regulatory perspective.
• Develop and implement legal risk management frameworks and controls.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.

2. Contract Management

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage various agreements including:
• Customer Agreements
• Master Service Agreements (MSA)
• Statements of Work (SOW)
• Vendor Contracts
• Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA)
• Employment Agreements
• Consulting Agreements
• Lease Agreements
• Partnership and Alliance Agreements
• Ensure contract terms adequately protect organizational interests.
• Maintain a contract repository and monitor contractual obligations.

3. Corporate Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with:
• Companies Act, 2013
• FEMA Regulations
• Labour Laws
• Information Security Regulations
• Data Privacy Regulations
• Industry-specific regulatory requirements
• Support Board and Committee meetings.
• Review governance framework and recommend improvements.
• Coordinate with Company Secretaries and external legal advisors.
• Track legal and regulatory developments impacting the organization.

4. Statutory & Regulatory Compliance

• Develop compliance calendars and monitoring mechanisms.
• Ensure timely filings, registrations, licenses, and renewals.
• Monitor compliance obligations across multiple entities and jurisdictions.
• Conduct periodic compliance audits and risk assessments.
• Drive implementation of compliance policies and procedures.

5. Litigation Management

• Manage ongoing litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution matters.
• Coordinate with external counsels and law firms.
• Review legal notices, responses, petitions, and case documentation.
• Maintain litigation trackers and provide regular status updates to leadership.
• Recommend settlement strategies and dispute mitigation approaches.

6. Employment & HR Legal Support

• Advise HR on employment laws, disciplinary actions, employee disputes, and investigations.
• Review HR policies and employee documentation.
• Ensure compliance with statutory employment regulations.
• Support employee grievance and misconduct investigations.

7. Compliance Program Management

• Develop and strengthen compliance frameworks.
• Conduct compliance reviews and internal investigations.
• Drive awareness and training initiatives on compliance and ethics.
• Ensure adherence to Code of Conduct and company policies.
• Monitor compliance breaches and recommend corrective actions.

8. Data Privacy & Information Security Compliance

• Support implementation of privacy and data protection requirements.
• Review customer and vendor contractual obligations related to data security.
• Partner with Information Security and Risk teams to address compliance gaps.
• Assist in audits related to ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, and other compliance frameworks.

9. Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with senior leadership, HR, Finance, Procurement, IT, and Operations teams.
• Interface with regulators, auditors, legal consultants, and government authorities.
• Act as a trusted advisor on legal and compliance matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Law (LLB) from a recognized university.
• LLM, CS, or Compliance Certifications will be an added advantage.
• Qualified Company Secretary (CS) preferred.

Experience

• 10-15+ years of progressive experience in Legal & Compliance.
• Experience in IT/ITES, BPO, Consulting, Shared Services, Technology, Healthcare, or Corporate sectors preferred.
• Strong exposure to corporate laws, commercial contracts, compliance management, and litigation.

Technical Competencies

• Contract Drafting & Negotiation
• Corporate Laws & Governance
• Regulatory Compliance
• Litigation Management
• Labour & Employment Laws
• Data Privacy & Protection
• Risk Assessment & Controls
• Policy Development
• Investigations & Ethics Management
• Vendor & Commercial Contracts

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong Business Acumen
• Excellent Negotiation Skills
• Analytical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Stakeholder Management
• Communication & Influencing Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Leadership & Team Management
• Problem Solving
• High Ethical Standards

The Job responsibilities of the candidate shall include but not limited to the Job Description & to perform any other tasks/functions as required by the Company.